182 HAWATIAN ISLANDS. 
single point of light was seen. The lake at the same time was less 
active than on the 16th, and the bank stood higher above the surface 
of the contained lavas, as if they had subsided. 
On the 16th of January,* the western pool or crater still appeared 
almost inactive, giving out only vapours, and an occasional jet of lava 
at centre; the black cooled surface was depressed several feet below 
the edge of the little crater. Dr. Judd, then in the lower pit, deeming 
the quiet favourable for dipping up some of the liquid with an iron 
ladle, descended for the purpose to the narrow rim bordering the pool. 
While preparing to carry out his plans, his attention was excited by 
a sudden sinking of the surface; the next instant it began to rise, and 
then followed an explosion, throwing the lavas higher than his head. 
He had scarcely escaped from his dangerous situation, the moment. 
after, by the aid of a native, before the lavas boiled up, covered the 
place where he stood, and flowing out over the northern side, extended 
in a stream a mile wide to a distance of more than a mile and a half. 
The large lake had been visited by Dr. Judd just before this adven- 
ture. He found that the approach to it was up a rather rapid slope 
produced by the overflowing lavas: but he was unable to go near 
enough to make any observations. It overflowed shortly after he left 
it. The following morning, as Captain Wilkes states, the lavas of the 
large lake had sunk so as to be out of sight from the north edge of the 
crater, where they were encamped ; and the amount of subsidence 
was ascertained to be one hundred feet. ‘The discharge of the large 
lake on the night of the 17th, is estimated, by Captain Wilkes, at 
fifteen million cubic feet; and that from the smaller pool, (which 
he designated, in commemoration of the incident related, Judd’s 
Lake,) is supposed to have been equal to two hundred millions of 
cubic feet. 
On the 26th of January, Dr. Pickering found the large lake much 
below its banks, and remarks that a jet was rarely visible from the 
encampment. Yet the surface was in active ebullition. ‘ About 9 
p.M. the whole southern bank fell in at once, producing a great light, 
and a surging to and fro for some minutes, the surface of the fluid 
sometimes rising almost even with the top of the bank. Dr. Pickering 
approached the brink of the lake, but found it impossible to look at 
the dazzling surface for more than an instant, on account of the heat. 
He speaks of the murmuring noise of the boiling cauldron as hardly 
* Ibid. iv. p. 173, 174. Narrative, iv. 178. 
Pp 
